Tumbling machine



E. B. BANKS 2,476,078

TUMBLING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l ImIHHIIIHE Fl c-. 2,

INVENTOR ,ERNEST 5., BANKS ATTORNEYS E. B. BANKS TUMBLING MACHINE July 12, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21, 1947 FIQS.

. lNvENToR ERNEST B BANK$ ATTORNEYS July 12, 1949.

Filed March 21, 1947 E. B. BANKS 2,476,078 I TUMBLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fm. i7.

INVENTOR sw- B.BANKS ATTORNEYS EKNE,

July 12, 1949. E. B. BANKS 2,476,078

TUMBLING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fae. \4.

67 9 INVENTOR ERNEST B. BANKS ATTORNEYS Patented July 12, 1949 1 NEE-ED STATE 5 FAT E'NT O'F'F'I lTUMBLIENG MACHINE Ernest-B. Banks, Elmira, N. Y.

-':Application-Mal'ch 21, 194-7, Serial-No. 736,131

'13 Claims. 51

This invention relates to an improved tumbling machine particularly adapted for burring and burnishingtobjects An "object 'of'theinvention is to provide an improved tumblingmach-ine having a rotary container support ofil simple construction that win: take various shapes an'dfsizes of containersan'd in which the containers canbe easily. positioned upon and removed from. the support and readily interchangeable to the ends, that containers of various forms "built to. shit theE particularlvparts. td'be' operated oncan belemployed, and all types of parts including frail', .slender and. long; parts, and'iparts having; perforations, especially long slots, can i. be efficiently deburred and polished without.distortlon.

Another object .of; the .invention is Y to provide animproved tumblingapparatusincl'uding a tumbling onta'iner .carrier rotatable about a'horizontaraxis, and alplura'lity of'individ'ual tumtiling-containers adaptedlto. be individually applied to and'remove'd therefrom.

"Another "object? of the' invention is' to provide improvedv tumbling apparatus including. a tumbling" container and" apl'urality of individual interchangeable selectively removable and i repiaceableturirblihg containers so that one or more" orra'll" of; the'.containers may be readily. removed from the container carrier and; replaced thereon'or others substitutdtherefor.

Another object ofl'the'invention is to provide arr improved tuniblingfmachine or; the character referred to; in which the containers .will be easyand fastto lbadnaridwhichtcan efficiently and expeditiouslyhandleiall"types 6f parts and. sizes of lead.

A further obiect of..theinvention is'to providein a construction of the characterreferredQ to', simple;iefflcient'm'eans whereby the containersmaybe'disposed atan inclination to the'axis- (if-rotation *o'f'the *support'as well asparallel.

thereto, and the angulartrelationship may be varied to "obtain di'fferent "degrees of tumbling action" to suit "different" conditions as regards the particularshapeand size of. the parts tobeoperate'd on.

wise relativelyto the aikisbffrotationof the same, and-for easymositioning the "containers on the suppoit -antl the removal of thesame from "the 2 support'from one end thereof to -einpty -or reflll them-and facilitating rapid loading and-unloading the machine.

.The inventioncomprehends a containensiipportlmounteolv for rotation about a horizontal-axis and'having a'fiat surface at one side thereof disposed at right.v angles to its --aXis of-rotatien, with a container havinga'flat surface 'at I one. end and means for detachably securing the same on thesupport with its flat end'i'ace fitting" agaiiiet thefiat face of'thes'upport. Another important novel feature of the invention lies m me-provision of an adapter-block having endiaces' extendingat anv-angle'to each other" and; adapted to be interposed between the end orthecom tainer and. the support whereby the container maybedispose'd at aninclination to the axis of rotatiornot the support aswell as parallel thereto.

Qthennoveliatures of theinven'tion reside in the particular means. provided for 'detach'ably securing'the container. on the support without theadapterlblock-or member and also wanna adapter block or member, and. in the provision of means for locking the adapter block in different positions of rotary adjustment -about its longitudinal axisto vary the angular relationshipof; the container relatively to the axis of rotation of" the support.

'Ihe'invention, with otherobiects, novel-features and advantages thereof, and theparticm'arconstruction, combinations and arrangements 61 patts-compri'sing the same will be understood from the hereinafter-contained detaileddescription whenflconsidered'in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart hereof aridillustrating. two preferred embodiments of the invention.

In thenrawings:

Fig. 1 is a'front elevation ofa turnbling -machine constructed in accordancew ith the present invention, the containers being shown mounted on the support without the adapter? blocks;

'Fi'g '2 is' a side elevation "of vthe construction shown in Fig.-'1;

'Fig. 3'lis alsid'eelevation. (in an enlargedlscalet of one'ofthe containers snownin Figs. 1 and2;v

Fi'g'. 4 is a' longitudinal section. of the container attached to the container support FigLS'is a side 'elevation of the containerltakenfromthe sidethereof opposite to that shownii n er's'andan adapter'block mounted on the support, the adapter block and support being shown in section;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of one end of the adapter Fig. 14 and showing the means for fastening the removable end members of the support thereon; Fig. 16 is a detail section taken on the line ||i-|B of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a vertical section on the line of Fig. 14;

Figs. 18, 19 and 20 are detail views of the closure fastening means for the containers shown in Fig. 17.

' While the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that minor changes and modifications may be made in the particular constructions shown, and the invention may be embodied in other forms as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to a detailed description of the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, the construction shown includes a standard I on a base 2, the

standard having a bearing 3 at its upper end in which is supported for rotation horizontally a shaft 4. One end of the shaft extends a slight distance to one side of the standard and has a pulley 5 fixed thereon. This pulley is connected by a belt 6 to a member I of a ratio electric motorii mounted on the base for driving the shaft. The shaft projects a substantial distance beyond the other side of the standard and on the end portion of this. projecting part of the shaft is.

fixed a support 9, the samebeing of disc-like form vertically disposed to carry at the front unobstructed side thereof a plurality of barrel-like containers II]. For removably holding the containers l9 on the container support 9 disposed lengthwise relatively to the axis of rotation thereof, the container support is provided with a plurality of apertures II and each container ID has a fiat end face I2 to fit against the flat outer side face I3 of the container support 9, and. a threaded stud l4 projecting centrally andv longitudinally therefrom adapted to extend through one of the apertures H in the container support Y to be engaged by a clamping nut I5, this construction providing for quickly and easily loading the containers upon and removing the same from the container support by shifting the containers longitudinally at the outer unobstructed side of the container support, and various shapes and sizes of containers may be used interchange- 7'0 ably to suit objects of different sizes and shapes to be polished.

Provision is made for holding the containers on the container support at an angle to its axis of. rotation as well as parallel thereto. For this purp'osablocks or members l6 are provided. each 4 block or member having end faces I8 extending at an angle to each other, and adapted to be interposed between the container support and the end of one of the containers as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawings, each adapter block or member I6 having a threaded bore I9 extending inwardly from its end face H for engagement by a bolt extending through one of the apertures I in the container support 9 to clamp the, adapter block to the container support. Each adapter block has a bore 2| extending inwardly from its end face I8 to receive the stud I4 of the containers versely extending adjustable screw member engaging a threaded bore 26 in the adapter block being provided to force the locking member 22 into locking engagement with the threaded stud I4 of the containers. The locking member 22 is held in the recess 23 in the adapter block bya. pin 21 engaging an elongated slot 28 in the lock-,

ing member 22 at one end thereof. Each of the adapter blocks I6 is provided in its end face IT with a series of recesses 29 and the container support 9 has sets of apertures 30 with pins 3| held therein and projecting from the front face I3 of the container support to engage the recesses 29 in the adapter block. As will be understood, the pins 3| and the series of recesses 29 provide for setting and holding the adapter block IS on the container support 9 with its inclined outer face I8 disposed at several different angles to the; axis of rotation of the support so that the angular. relationship of the container relatively to the axis of rotation of the container support may be read-, ily varied to obtain different degrees of tumbling action. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the

I, containers It are formed closed at their inner ends and have removable closures at their outer. ends with ,quick detachable fastening means to the cover plate 32 and having a depending.v

apertured ear 36 to interlock with a laterally proectmg pin 31 on the container. At a point opj posite the member 35, a lever 38 is pivotally c0n-, nected with the cover plate 32 by a bale 39 and a metal strap 4|), said-lever being adapted to cooperate with a lug 4| on the container to clamp the cover platev on the container. 42 and 43 designate shims at the under side of the-member and the metal strap respectively to take up wear in the fastening devices.

plates the use of containers of various sizes and shapes to suit the particular parts to be operated.- on. In Fig. 1 of the drawings the container sup-.

port 9 is shown provided with additional apertures 44 for securing larger size containers on the In Figs. 1v to 10, the containers are. shown as of cylindrical form with longitudinal. ribs 5| on the inner face thereof. In Fig. 11 is illustrated acontainer 52 of general clover leaf form in cross section, this form of container pro support.

v In Figs. 12 and13 is shown a barrel-like 0011;

The cover.

armors tainer I 45- of angular 1 cross sectionalform. In these-views; the container-is show-n providedat its upper endinteriorlythereofwith an'annular seat 19* for the cover 46,-a-nd the-cover is shown provided with fastening- -mea-ns--comprising a-look bar H-having reducedend portions fl to engage apertures 49in opposite-sidewall portions of the container, and a clamping-screwifl engaginga threaded aperture w in theloek barl'l-l As will be-understood, whenthe clamping screw is turned up, its lower end will' press againstthe upper* face of the cover 46-and-the cover will'rbe tightly clamped to-its seat. By turning back the clamping screw the lock barcan lee-shifted laterally and disenga ed from the apertures so that the cover may be-removed.

It will' be notedthat the inventionprovides for individually detachably securinga pluralityof tumbling containers or" vessels on the tumbling; vessel carrier at places located different distances radially outwardly fromthe axisof rotation of thecarrier so that different degrees oftumbl-ing action appropriate for different-sizes and kinds of articles or partscan be obtained-in this way as well as by varying the angular relationship of the longitudinal axis of one-or'more'or allfof the tumbling vessels-relatively to the axis of rotation of the tumbling vessel'carrier, the invention thus'providingfor individually varying the. degree or intensity of' tumbling action in; the vessels on the-parts orarticles overan exceedingly wide range and enablingtheready independent selective removal-and replacement of, one or moreof the tumblingvesselsthat are disposed substantially parallel wither-at an angle to theaids of rotationof the vessel carrier so that various'types. of work can'be operatedron simultaneously for different-periods oftime and subjected to difierent degrees of-tumbling action to-meet different requirements in a single, machine with only relatively small interruption'in' theoperation ofv the machine, and thisis accomplished easily and quickly by, means of simple construction.

Themodified construction of machine illustrated. in Figs. 14 and 17 of' the drawings,;like theconstruction hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figs. 1 an'di2, comprisesavertical standard with ashaft supported, thereon to extend horizontally andprojecting, to one side. thereof, and a support mounted on the projecting end. portion ofithe shaft and,rotatable about ,a horizontal axis adapted; to carry thereon aplurality of barrel lik'e containersdisposedl lengthwise. relatively to the axis of rotation of the support, and. providing for positioning'the containers ,on the rotatable support and the removal of the same therefrom by shiftingthe containers longitudinally at the outer or'front unobstructed side .of the support, and alsofor convenient loading and unloading the containersfromthefront side of the-support withoutremoving thesame therefrom. In thesev-iews, 53 designates thesupporting; base, a the standard ron the base, and 5545' the shaft supported at the upper end 'of-the-standard-cto extend horizontally and to one side'thereo'f. In-this instance, the shaft -;-.55 :fixedly secured in a. tubular part :56 011 the -:standard,. andxthev container supportiis shaft. The container support; comprises: an'inner hubgpart 35 fitting-.ong-a bearing .58. on: the shaft 55, an intermediate. disc; oraweh59; secured" to the.

hub. part, and'fla plurality ot-outer cylindrical drum'dike: membersifilli or; different diameters dis:-

mounted for: rotation. on the,

6 particular exemplifieation orthe invention shown. in these views, thereare three of-such cylindrical.

members; the innermostcylindrical-member being secured to the discor web-'59 at theperiphery =01 the latter. "Thecylindricalmembers are-secured to-each: other'bya plurality of radially extending plates li l disposed therebetween atregular interva-Isand forming with these cylindrical members. two circular series: of com-partments 62 for con-- tainers 63 of 'barrel -lihe-form. The containersupport is provided at each end with-a removable closure member wtoextend over the-ends of the series :of compartments 62 and hold the containers 63 therein. -Each removable'closure-member: 66 comprises a pairrof annular plates 5 66' of ,difier'entdiameters; concentrically arranged and; connected at i-nterval's by radially extendingstrips' 6.1. The inner annular plates of the closure members-are-adaptedto fitover pins 68 secured toIand projectingfrom theends of-some or-the radially extending plates 6|; Catches 69 mounted on- -and projecting from the ends of some of the radially:extending'plates'6lare adapted to engage over the radially extending strips 61 and lock: the closure members to the support. In placing the closure memberson the support the'inner annular'plates- 6501 the-closuremembers areengaged over the pins St and then'by a-slight turning-movement of the-closure member the ra dia'lly extending strips -61 =-are engaged "beneath the catches, 69'.

'In'Figs. l8, -I9 a-nd 2d of-the drawings, the container= 63, as in theconstruction shown in Figs. I2 and i 13} has at its open endan annular seat -8i fonthe cover 70 *Ihe cover is' shown provided with fastening means comprising a lock bar H- havingend portions '12 to engage apertures T3- inopposite side wall portions of the container, and-aclampingscrew:H. ln-this form-of fasten-- ing means, the "clamping: screw engages a thread-- ed apertures 15in the lock barH-and extends through" a tra-nsverseslot 82 in the upper part of an inverted U-shaped-bracket'lfi onthe cover. When the clamping screw is screwed up the head f; th same? bears against the upper face of thebracket wand the. cover -will-be'clamped to its seat. 'Whenthe clamping screw is turned back, the lockbar 11 can beshifted laterally to disenga-geits end portions from the aperture 13'; the slot 82- in'the-bracket-"l5 permitting lateral movementof the clamping-screw.

Secured to=the containersupport at the innerside thereof by arms-T1 is a pulley18 for connection to any suitable source of-power for driving the support.

What'I- claim is:

' 1'. Atumbling apparatusincludin a vessel carrier rotatable about-a substantially horizontal axis, -means supporting-the vessel carrier for rotation, a plurality of tumbling vessels, means individually and removably mounting the vessels on the carrier-at places located different distances: radially from itS JQJ'X'iSPOf rotation, .and meanslto 657 rotate thewvessels carrier..

.2. Artumblingapparatus; including ea vessel ear-- rier rotatable about an axis, means, supporting; the vessel carrier .forsrotation, a. plurality ofv tmnbling vessels-means individually detachably and: rigidly securing: each. tumbling -vessel thetvessel carrier atplaces" located; different distances radially fitom its. axis .of, rotation, and: means tcrrotatettheivessel carrier.

:3. :A tumbling. apparatus; includingv uazcontainer' posed concentrically in spaced relation. In the 7-51carrierlrotatablerahout a horizontal-.axissmeansa supporting the container carrier for rotation,

a plurality of tumbling containers, means for individually detachably and rigidly securing each tumbling container on the container carrier at placeslocated different distances radially from the axis of rotation of the container carrier; and providing for individually varying the angular relationship of the longitudinal axis of each container relatively to the axis of rotation of the container carrier, and means to rotate the container carrier.

4. A tumbling apparatus including a container carrier of disc form substantially vertically disposed and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, means supporting the container carrier for rotation, a plurality of individual barrellike tumbling containers, means for individually detachably and rigidly securing the tumbling containers at one end thereof on the container carrier disposed lengthwise relatively to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the container carrier and at places located different distances radially from the axis of rotation of the container carrier, and providing for individually varyin the angular relationship of the longitudinal axes of the tumbling containers relatively to the axis of rotation of the container carrier, and means to rotate the container carrier.

5. A tumbling apparatus including a container carrier of disc form substantially verticaly dis posed and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, means supporting the containers carrier for rotation, a plurality of individual barrel,- like tumbling containers, means for individually detachably and rigidly securing each tumbling container at one end thereof on the container carrier disposed lengthwise relatively to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the container carrier and at places located different distances radially from the axis of rotation of the container carrier, and means to rotate the container carrier.

6. A tumbling apparatus including a container carrier of disc form substantially vertically disposed and rotatable about a, horizontal axis, means supporting the container carrier, a plurality of individual barrel-like tumbling containers, means for individually detachably and rigidly securing each tumbling container at one end thereof on the container carrier disposed lengthwise relatively to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the container carrier and in circular series concentric with and at different distances radially from the axis of rotation of the container carrier, and means to rotate the container carrier.

'7. A tumbling apparatus including a container carrier of disc form substantially vertically disposed and rotatable about a horizontal axis, the container being provided with a multitude of apertures therein located different distances from the axis of rotation of the container carrier, a plurality of barrel-like tumbling containers, means for individually detachably and rigidly securing each tumbling container at one end thereof on the container carrier disposed lengthwise relatively to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the container carrier, said means including fastening members adapted to be engaged with the apertures in the container carrier, and means to rotate the container carriers 8. A tumbling apparatus including a container carrier of disc-form substantially vertically disposed and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, means supporting the container carrier at one side thereof, a plurality of individual barrel-like containers, means for individually detachably and rigidly securing each container on the container carrier disposed substantially lengthwise relative to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the container carrier and at places located different distances radially from the axis of rotationof the container carrier, and means to rotate the container carrier.

9. A tumbling apparatus including a container carrier of disc-form substantially vertically disposed and rotatableabout a substantially horizontal axis, the container carrier being provided with a multitude of apertures therein located different distances radially from the axis of rotation of the container carrier, a plurality of barrellike tumbling containers, meansfor individually detachably and rigidly securing each tumbling container at one end thereof on the container carrier disposed lengthwise relatively to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the container carrier, said means including a threaded stud projecting longitudinally from each tumbling container adapted to be engaged with one of said apertures in the container carrier, and a nut to cooperate with each of said threaded studs, and means to rotate the container carrier.

10. A tumbling apparatus including a support, a shaft mounted on the support extending substantially horizontally to one side thereof, a substantially vertically disposed carrier disc on the projecting end portion of the shaft rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, a plurality of barrel-like tumbling containers, means for individually detachably and rigidly securing each tumbling container at one end thereof on the container carrier disposed lengthwise relatively to the axis of rotation of the container carrier at points located different distances radially from the axis of rotation of the container carrier, and

means to rotate the container carrier.

11. A tumbling apparatus including a vessel carrier rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, and having a flat face at one side thereof disposed at'substantially right angles to its axis of rotation,'means supporting the vessel carrier for rotation,'an adapter member having opposite end faces extending, at an inclination to each other, means detachably securing the adapter member on, the vessel carrier with one end face of said i member fitting against the flat face of the vessel carrier and with its other end face extending at aninclination, and a tumbling vessel detachably.

and rigidly secured on the adapter member with its axis disposed at an inclination to the axis of rotation of the vessel carrier, and means to rotate the Vessel carrier.

12. A tumbling apparatus including a vessel carrier rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, and having a flat face at one side thereof disposed atsubstantially right angles'to its axis of rotation, means supporting the vessel carrier for rotation, a rotatably adjustable adapter member detachably mounted on the vessel carrier having opposite end faces extending at an inclination-to each other, one end face of said adapter member fitting against the fiat face of the vessel carrier and its other end face extending at an inclination, means for se'curing said adapter member to the vessel carrier in different positions of rotary adjustment, and a tumbling vessel detachably and rigidly secured onthe adapter member with its axis disposed at an inclination to the axis of rotation of the vessel carrier, and means to rotate the vessel carrier.

13. A tumbling apparatus including a vessel carrier rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, means supporting the vessel carrier for rotation, a plurality of tumbling vessels each of which has a separate independent closure, means 5 individually and removably mounting the vessels on the vessel carrier at places located different distances radially from its axis of rotation, a common means for securing the plurality of vessels on the vessel carrier, and means to rotate the 10 vessel carrier.

' ERNEST B. BANKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

Number Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Weissenborn Apr. 2, 1872 Sawyer Feb. 1, 1910 Fuller Apr. 22, 1924 Stewart May 19, 1931 Abbe Nov. 5, 1935 Shideler et a1 Oct. 16, 1945 Fruth Oct. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 9, 1911 Norway Sept. 8, 1904 Switzerland Jan. 25, 1911 Switzerland May 1, 1934 

